Gautam Gambhir tells BCCI to retain Suryakumar Yadav as India T20I captain till T20 World Cup 2028

[Tillu]

The India National Cricket Team have been one of the strongest teams in the white-ball format, especially in the T20 format. Suryakumar Yadav’s side created history after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, becoming the first team to win the trophy in back-to-back years, winning it at home, and also the team to win the trophy three times.

 

Suryakumar Yadav, as a captain of the Men in Blue have been impressive with his record and has a better win percentage record than other World Cup-winning captains Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. SKY has led the side well and has won 8 games out of 9 in the recently concluded tournament. Suryakumar has a win percentage of 80.76.

Suryakumar Yadav to be dropped from captaincy?

Head coach Gautam Gambhir is a big fan of Suryakumar’s captaincy in the shorter format of the game. However, considering his poor batting record raises serious doubts about his participation in the country's 2028 Olympics campaign in Los Angeles. In this context, India's tour of England and Ireland in June-July will be critical for the skipper.

 

According to a report in PTI, his batting will be under the eyes of the selectors, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, rather than his captaincy. The upcoming tour might determine his future for another two years until the next round of major events in 2028, which includes the Olympics and the T20 World Cup. SKY did not perform well with the bat in the T20 World Cup, except for the first game against the USA.

Gautam Gambhir favours SKY as captain for India

As per reports from PTI, Gautam Gambhir is expecting his extension of coaching tenure till the T20 World Cup 2028 in Australia, and also keep Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of the side in the shortest format of the game. Though the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is yet to agree with the head coach, given that Surya will turn 38 at the time of the Olympics.

 

"Obviously Surya is now leading the team. But he also has to ensure that as a batter, he maintains a level of consistency in his performances. Obviously, he will lead in the UK but after that, discussions going forward till 2028 could be purely performance-based," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Suryakumar Yadav's form a concern

Suryakumar Yadav scored 242 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026, with an average of 30, a strike rate of 136.72. This was a concern, as his rapid drop in the strike rate, and he was criticised for the same. SKY had a torrid 2025 as he could not score a single fifty, and his strike rate also dropped under 120.

India have a lot of talent waiting to get their chances, and has tremendous firepower in the top three, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is yet to make his debut. Suryakumar needs to find consistency and score at a good pace with the changing dynamics of T20 cricket; he will have a problem matching the pace of the game.

 

cricketaddictor

[Gollum]

Filthy politician this GG. Anything to keep Shreyas out. 

 

This buffoon SKY who always laughs like a donkey for no reason hasn't scored anything for 2 years now. Even in his prime, a total non-factor in big games and against good bowling units. 

 

Upar se all his filthy politiciking and deshbhakti bandwagon, guy should join full time politics and leave us alone.

 

His supporters here on ICF are even more shameless. Same guys (just 2-3 now thankfully) will abuse Kohli, Rohit day in and day out but not a word against their beloved Shunya.  

Edited April 16 by Gollum

[New guy]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

Filthy politician this GG. Anything to keep Shreyas out. 

 

This buffoon SKY who always laughs like a donkey for no reason hasn't scored anything for 2 years now. Even in his prime, a total non-factor in big games and against good bowling units. 

 

Upar se all his filthy politiciking and deshbhakti bandwagon, guy should join full time politics and leave us alone.

 

His supporters here on ICF are even more shameless. Same guys (just 2-3 now thankfully) will abuse Kohli, Rohit day in and day out but not a word against their beloved Shunya.  

Was gonna say exactly the same. It's a ploy to keep Iyer out at all costs.

 

And SKY cannot even deliver in the IPL, so we are literally gonna carry a passenger for no reason 

[Gollum]

2 minutes ago, New guy said:

Was gonna say exactly the same. It's a ploy to keep Iyer out at all costs.

 

And SKY cannot even deliver in the IPL, so we are literally gonna carry a passenger for no reason 

Also SKY's antics in Asia Cup, WC and various other functions, his political statements/gestures all make sense now. 

 

Jab run nahi aate hai toh hide behind farzi deshbhakti and chatugiri of the ruling regime. Pura desh isi pe chal raha hai ab. 

[New guy]

15 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Also SKY's antics in Asia Cup, WC and various other functions, his political statements/gestures all make sense now. 

 

Jab run nahi aate hai toh hide behind farzi deshbhakti and chatugiri of the ruling regime. Pura desh isi pe chal raha hai ab. 

This is why I am actively rooting against MI. SKY, Pandya, all backed by politicians and billionaires over deserving players and captains.

[Gollum]

5 minutes ago, New guy said:

This is why I am actively rooting against MI. SKY, Pandya, all backed by politicians and billionaires over deserving players and captains.

Same boat bro. I have always rooted against Chuskis and Bambis, ever since I started watching IPL. 

[New guy]

10 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Same boat bro. I have always rooted against Chuskis and Bambis, ever since I started watching IPL. 

I was a huge MI fan, mainly because of Sachin. Then dialled it back but didn't abandon them completely, mainly for bumrah. But after the whole Pandya fiasco where he was brought over deserving guys like Bumrah,  completely abandoned them.

 

Chuskis despised them from day 1

Edited April 16 by New guy

[Ultimate_Game]

This is bullshyte of the highest order! SKY doesn't deserve to be in the team and he has been anointed captain forever without any performances to speak of! Whereas Iyer who's a much better captain, leader and batter can't even get into the squad!

 

I would rather have Iyer in the team as captain than Gambhir as the coach. If I've to pick one of the two, I choose Iyer.

[jf1gp_1]

Disappointing. I like sky but India won Asia and WC without his contribution. He isn't even MI captain and unlikely to survive till 28.

[StraightDrive26]

Indian T20 team can win under any captain to be frank, thats the kind of talent the team has. Shreyas Iyer should be the taking over the captain to build a team for 2028 and SKY needs to be thanked for his service and let go. SKY will be 36 this year and will be close to 38 in 2028, so not sure what's the point of keeping him in the XI when you have so many youngsters waiting in the wings. GG needs to stop this politics and concentrate on the cricketing aspects if he wants to keep his position as the coach of the national side.

[bowl_out]

10 hours ago, Gollum said:

Filthy politician this GG. Anything to keep Shreyas out. 

 

This buffoon SKY who always laughs like a donkey for no reason hasn't scored anything for 2 years now. Even in his prime, a total non-factor in big games and against good bowling units. 

 

Upar se all his filthy politiciking and deshbhakti bandwagon, guy should join full time politics and leave us alone.

 

His supporters here on ICF are even more shameless. Same guys (just 2-3 now thankfully) will abuse Kohli, Rohit day in and day out but not a word against their beloved Shunya.  

 

SKY has supporters on ICF?

[Ultimate_Game]

18 minutes ago, bowl_out said:

 

SKY has supporters on ICF?

 

Yes. @Jamadagni 

[Ultimate_Game]

1 hour ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

Yes. @Jamadagni 

 

He's the guy who always comes up making excuses for SKY's dismal performances and treats SKY as the second coming of Viv Richards and ABDV combined 

[New guy]

3 hours ago, StraightDrive26 said:

Indian T20 team can win under any captain to be frank, thats the kind of talent the team has. Shreyas Iyer should be the taking over the captain to build a team for 2028 and SKY needs to be thanked for his service and let go. SKY will be 36 this year and will be close to 38 in 2028, so not sure what's the point of keeping him in the XI when you have so many youngsters waiting in the wings. GG needs to stop this politics and concentrate on the cricketing aspects if he wants to keep his position as the coach of the national side.

There is no impact player in international. Going with 10 players instead of XI might cost us a crucial match someday 

[putrevus]

Iyer should be the captain in both whiteball formats. Gill should only play tests.

 

Iyer is at his peak, it would be disgrace to keep him out for useless guy like SKY.

Edited April 17 by putrevus

[nevada]

As it is it feels like a crime to have left out Iyer and kept SKY for the just concluded WC. To continue this injustice for two more years would be even more devastating! 

[putrevus]

I want Iyer to be the captain .

 

Why does Dhoni gets lauded as great even though he stunk both as a captain and batsman for decade in t20s.He was useless t20 batsman plus horrible captain.Who lost 5 world t20s.

 

Dhoni should have never been in t20 teams after 2010 world t20.

 

SKY atleast has created strongest t20 team. 

[Gollum]

32 minutes ago, putrevus said:

I want Iyer to be the captain .

 

Why does Dhoni gets lauded as great even though he stunk both as a captain and batsman for decade in t20s.He was useless t20 batsman plus horrible captain.Who lost 5 world t20s.

 

Dhoni should have never been in t20 teams after 2010 world t20.

 

SKY atleast has created strongest t20 team. 

SKY has created nothing, just in the right place at the right time, and he knows how to suck up to Jay Shah, BCCI, govt etc. 

[putrevus]

10 minutes ago, Gollum said:

SKY has created nothing, just in the right place at the right time, and he knows how to suck up to Jay Shah, BCCI, govt etc. 

Common man give him some credit for bringing in attacking brand of cricket. He stinks under pressure but IMO he was the first batsman to usher in t20 batting.

 

Right place and right time is correct but does that not apply to Dhoni in 2007 who rode his luck then and then got exposed for next decade.

[Cdd12]

41 minutes ago, putrevus said:

I want Iyer to be the captain .

 

Why does Dhoni gets lauded as great even though he stunk both as a captain and batsman for decade in t20s.He was useless t20 batsman plus horrible captain.Who lost 5 world t20s.

 

Dhoni should have never been in t20 teams after 2010 world t20.

 

SKY atleast has created strongest t20 team. 

What about Kohli who was bad test player from 2020 to 2025. He had sucked 2 WTCs from his batting and still many ex cricketers and fans like you wants him to play test cricket  because of jealousy towards Root and Smith. And Kohli was worst T20 and ODI Captain who was not able to win any trophy during his captaincy.